But as thousands of people responded Walker, a columnist for the New York Observer and based in London, issued his white flag surrender.

It included a screenshot of a Facebook post where he wrote: “Dear (and I can’t believe I am saying this) all 110,000 who replied my tweet about libraries, Your sheer numbers have proved the point that libraries aren’t as unpopular as I believed this morning! Please stop replying!!!”

He has since been praised for his “willingness to let your opinion be changed”.

And, all snark aside, I admire and appreciate your willingness to let your opinion be changed. It's a rare virtue these days.

Walker’s turnaround was also welcomed tongue-in-cheek by the Society of Authors which tweeted: “We can’t condone chasing anti-library campaigners through the streets with sticks until they capitulate, but, I mean, it does seem to work.”

We can't condone chasing anti-library campaigners through the streets with sticks until they capitulate, but, I mean, it does seem to work https://t.co/jYWG6ncz3b